New Mexico’s Bustos takes on trainer/mentor role | Albuquerque Journal

University of New Mexico Women’s Basketball Director of Operations, Vera Jo Bustos, giving back to the community and lending a hand up to the next generation.

SANTA FE, N.M. — Even now, a decade after her graduation from West Las Vegas High School, the name Vera Jo Bustos resonates across northern New Mexico.
The Dons’ record-holder in points, rebounds, assists and steals, Bustos is one of the poster children for small-town girl made good.

Following her stand-out prep career, Bustos moved on to Adams State University, not only earning an undergrad degree in Exercise Science and Sports Psychology, but also becoming the Grizzlies’ all-time scoring leader and 3-pointer scorer.

She even played a year of professional hoops in Thessaloniki, Greece, before returning to Adams State to earn a master’s in sports administration.

Now, as a director of operations for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team, helping the Lobos to a nice run in the WNIT, Bustos has added to her growing résumé with the creation of VJ’s Elite, a basketball training ground for youngsters who want to reach the heights Bustos attained.

“This is I guess something that’s been special to me, growing up in northern New Mexico and getting the opportunity to fulfill my dream, of playing college basketball and playing professional basketball, and coaching Division I and Division II basketball,” she said. “I fulfilled my dreams.

“Now it’s my duty to help the youth of New Mexico to fulfill theirs. It’s my calling, something that God has placed in my heart. Sharing my experiences and how I fulfilled my dreams.”

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